, 1887-04-28
CRUSHED TO DEATH.
An Unknown Man Falls Victim to His
Own Carelcssness.

own Careicssnes.
Yesterday afternoon between half
past 1 and 2 O'clock, an unknown
man fell beneath the wheels of u
freight car, on the main track, only
q few yards east of the N. p. eleva-
tor building, ana was 80 shockingly
injured that he only survived the
hurts few minutes. DIR. Allison
was summoned, hut upon examin-
ing the unfortunate man declared
his death was only matter Of few
moments. The wounded man was
carried to the meeting room in No.
2's hose house, that has so often been
used as morgue, and death Oc-
Cured shortly afterwards. The
news of'the accident spread rapidly,
and many people gathered to view
the remains. No one knew the de-
ceased by name, although a few saw
him short time prior to the acci-
dent, some of whom stated that the
man was intoxicated. The remains
were conveyed to the undertaking
establishment OF Charles BlOomer,
where an inquest was held by COro-
ner Penfield yesterday afternoon.
Only thee witnesses were ex-
amined. Mr.. Harry Forbes stated
that he lived on the south side of
Railroad avenue, directly opposite
to where the accident occurred.
He was in the yard when freight
train No. IA, bound east, WIS switch
ing. His attention was particularly
attracted by New England box car.
While looking he saw two men rum
ming along the south side, trying to
get into the car. One Of them sue
ceeded In getting in, and when tie
door Of the car WAS opened he
noticed two other men running
along. tho north side trying to get
into the same car. The car stopped
It. AS the train started up again
he saw one OF the men on the north
side Of the car fall. The grade being
higher than the ground where
he was standing he did not
see the man run over, but
he walked over to the
track mt once and saw
the deceased lying along side of the
the track and brakesman standiug
near. The man was still breathing.
DR.. Allison came and Mr.. Forbes as.
sisted In moving the injured man to
the hose house. He did not say any
thing. A few moments before he
died he raised TO q sitting position
and put his feet on the floor saying
II guess can go now" He was at
once laid down and expired. In an
swer to question by one of the
jurymen Mr.. Forbes stated that he
did not consider under the circum-
stances that the railroad employees
were In any manner whatever to
blame for the accident.
Sheriff Glispin stated that he took
charge OF the body and made thor.
Ough examination of the clothing.
All there was on his person was $1.lO
In silver, Jack knife, a comb, a
business card of Jackson & Co. and
several scraps Of paper upon which
were written the names OF Farming
ton, Colfax, Moscow, Coeur d. Alene
Murray, Eagle City and Wardner,
as though they were memorandum
Of places he had visited.
Mr.. Palmer, Of the firm of jackson
q CO., second hand dealers, was
called in. He viewed the remains
and recognised them as those OF q
man who had come into the store
that morning and pawned kit OF
ahoemakers tools for two dollars.
He said that they were to be re.
deemed In few days. The man
seemed to be q German. He did
not give his name nor did he say
where he was going.
This closed the evidence in the
case when the jury retired and rend.
cred the following verdict:
TERRYToRY or w ayyrucrOr
COUNTY OF SPOKANE, Co.
Information taken at Spokane
Falls on the 2lst day Of April, 1887,
before @. 8. Penfield, coroner OF said
county, upon view OF the body OF a
man, name unknown, there and then
lying dead, upon the oath of Charles
Syphert, II. p. PalmerstOn, G. F.
Bowen, II. w. Forest, A. G. Ed.
wards, w. M. Cronan, good and
lawful men Of said county, being
duly summoned and sworn to In.
quIre into all the circumstances at
tending the death Of the said man,
name unknown, and by whom the
same was produced, and In what
manner, and when and where the
said man, name unknown, came to
his death, do say, upon their Oaths,
Aforesaid. that the deceased came TO
his death by falling under the wheels
OF 9 freight car at Spokane Falls
while the same was being switched.
Tho said accident occurred between
ehe hours Of 1850 and 2 p. m. on the
Sist day OF April, 1857. And the